The wife of a Central California cheese company CEO earlier this week pleaded not guilty to DUI charges stemming from her arrest in January when she allegedly crashed her Maserati into a ditch after driving over 125 miles per hour.
Lori Gallo, 47, was arrested in Merced on January 20 on a count of felony DUI collision causing injury. She is the wife of Michael Gallo, the CEO and co-owner of Merced County-based cheese company Joseph Gallo Farms. According to the Merced Sun-Star, Lori Gallo "has been a visible figure in the greater Merced community for a number of years."
Gallo allegedly was driving her 2022 Maserati south down G Street at more than 125 miles per hour, Merced Police said in a release. She attempted to pass a Lexus but "got too close," side swiped the vehicle and subsequently hit a stopped Honda at the intersection of G Street and Cardella. The impact caused Gallo’s Maserati and the Lexus to go off the road and into a ditch several hundred feet away, police said.
Both the Lexus and Honda drivers were injured and transported to a local hospital for treatment.
In addition, a fourth car was also damaged by hitting a tire and wheel which tore off the Maserati and left on the roadway.
Officers determined that Gallo's blood alcohol content was over twice the legal limit.
Gallo was arraigned in Merced County Superior Court on Monday and pleaded not guilty to charges of driving under the influence of an alcoholic beverage causing injury and driving with a .08% blood alcohol content causing injury, both felonies, the paper reported.
During her arraignment, the judge told Gallo that she must abstain from drugs and alcohol, is barred from entering a business that mainly sells alcohol and must continue to attend Alcoholics Anonymous meetings, which she has done since the incident, according to the Sun-Star.
Gallo is expected to appear in court again on April 21 for a preliminary hearing.
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